My experiences as a former librarian, edtech geek and instructional technologist.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

First Impressions and the First Library Visit

The first time my new 6th graders see me is when I visit their elementary schools to talk about summer reading and share book trailers. I've even brought along the iPods with recorded book talks loaded so they can listen to them. It is important to me that their first impression and interaction with me is a positive one. I don't talk about rules, policies or procedures. I talk about how much fun we have, books I love and how excited I am to have them at our school.
I'm sure to include the library on the 5th grade tour in the Spring as well as the first day of school tour when they arrive. I'm there for assemblies and parent night so they get used to thinking of me as part of their team of teachers. Luckily I have several excellent teachers that go to extremes to include me so I am lucky. This year my best friend brought me two giveaway Hunger Games posters from the movie release and the idea to hold a drawing on parent night for those that visited the library. That was genius and so simple. I had 67 students and families stop by and normally I have less than 10. Definitely doing that again next year.
Here are my plans for their first official library visit. For every grade we talk about book trends and watch book trailers to build excitement about reading. This year I'm using slides that Kristen, Monique and I created for our novel staff development session last week. You may recognize them from our Nerdy Book Club post with our spectacular high school colleague, Jen Chesney.
This was one of our slides that I turned into a book display.

There will not be discussion of rules yet. The only policy I plan to share is the number of books they can check out and how to put books on hold.
Here is my book trailer playlist.
We are planning a library QR code scavenger hunt for the 6th grade's second visit. I used the cute graphic from the Daring Librarian, Gwyneth Jones, to make a handout. They will use the iPods to view our catalog, library website, and the site Your Next Read, in addition to exploring different areas of the library and answering questions about the room.
For another of the first visits we'll use this idea from Mrs. ReaderPantz. Students will use my version of her genre quiz to find their favorites. This is especially important this year because I genrefied fiction.
Soon we'll be doing a version of this book cover/book pass activity from Teen Librarian Toolbox. We'll also be signing up for Edmodo accounts and getting started on Reader's Quest with 6th grade. The teachers have already reserved a spot for me on their weekly homework handout. I'll post updates on that soon.
I hope you all have made a positive first impression with your students.
What do you do for your first library visit?

I read this before starting my orientations. I focused less on policies & procedures this time. Instead, I focused on book talking different books during each session. It was fun and the students were eager to go find a book to read. It opened up dialogue right off the bat. Thanks for sharing your thoughts & ideas:)

Thank you for reminding us that we need to be welcoming and inviting when interacting with the kids, especially with that important first impression! I hate it when some well-meaning teachers tells the students to be quiet because the library is a quiet place - what a turn-off for kids. I love to hear them talking about their favorite books!

Tamara, I love your ideas and your creative posters here and in other posts. I have to ask about where you get your book cover images, and how you are citing them. I appreciate your inviting us to use your artwork, but would be more comfortable if these were licensed through Creative Commons so that I could confidently use them with kids and point out to them that I am correctly crediting the creators. Thanks!

I usually go to the publishers sites. I can't fit all the citations on the poster. I put my stuff CC on Flickr. I don't make any money on anything I make and I'm promoting their books so I don't feel that I'm taking advantage of anyone. Feel free to use or not use as you feel comfortable.